When considering the extensive and difficult war on drugs, one thing that has always proven to be a challenge for drug enforcement officials is staying abreast of new developments in the manufacture of drug substances. There are, of course, naturally-derived drug substances like heroin, cocaine and marijuana, but there are also a wide variety of synthetic drug substances, like methamphetamine, that must be combated in order to bring about a healthier society. But what happens when the drug manufacturers constantly make subtle shifts to their formulas in order to stay ahead of drug enforcement efforts?

When pinned down by his family and told that he (or she) needs to go to rehab, many addicted people will complain that the family just needs to leave him alone because, after all, “I’m only hurting myself.” How could the addicted person even say this? After all, it’s obvious to the family that he’s hurting them. Their hearts are breaking. They worry every time the phone rings. Their pocketbooks are emptied after having to cover medical and legal costs of the addicted person, time after time. But to the addicted person, it seems true at that moment. That’s the…

While few people truly understand the effects of drug use, abuse and addiction, even fewer people consider the full extent of damaging effects these problems can have on an addict’s family members. True, they may not themselves be directly suffering from the physical, mental and emotional effects caused by the ingestion of drug substances, but there is no doubt that they are suffering mental and emotional effects as a result of their loved one’s drug abuse and addiction. Not the least of these effects is a feeling of guilt or shame – that perhaps one either drove their loved one…

Marijuana is a controversial subject any way you look at it. On one side, NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) and other pro-marijuana groups claim that the drug is pretty harmless. On the other side, prevention groups describe its dangers. Some groups even say that the potency of marijuana hasn’t really increased all that much. Has it or hasn’t it? Below are a couple of charts that show this increase. The first chart shows the average percentage of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, the primary intoxicating ingredient) of seized marijuana samples from the 1970s through 2008.

The purpose of regular health check-ups with a primary care physician is for an individual to take the opportunity to maintain good health throughout their life. Obviously, emergencies do happen, but the overall goal of maintaining one’s good health is to greatly reduce the chances of this happening. Unfortunately, health care is not usually at the forefront of a drug abuser’s mind. In fact, they may have little attention on their overall health and well-being until something dramatic occurs, at which point their health requires emergency care.

When we see a doctor, we want to think that the doctor is deciding on the best care to make us healthy again. But what if that doctor was under pressure to change what he recommends for us? Surely that could not be good for the patients of any doctor under that kind of pressure. Perhaps it could even make some patients worse instead of better. A news story from Tennessee shows that something as simple as a survey the federal government requires for Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement could set up a series of events that result in more addictive…

The Words that Can Help You Discover the Truth It can take a family a very long time to realize that the problems they are having with a loved one are actually addiction. In the case of a son or daughter, there’s usually been trust and love for many years. When addiction shows up, there’s a whole new playbook, one that the family is not prepared for. In this new scenario, it becomes necessary to disregard the lies and focus on the real situation: the addiction. With a spouse, it’s a little different. Gradually, that person that was loved…

When a teenager chooses to turn to drug use, one could say that they are giving up the power to control their own life just as their life is beginning. Drug substances can quickly destroy an individual’s health, relationships and general outlook on life, robbing from them their drive to set and achieve life goals and become a productive, happy and contributing member of society. For parents of these young individuals, there may be few things as upsetting, frustrating and confusing as watching their teenager sink into the trap that is drug use, abuse and addiction. When this does occur,…

This year, National Prevention Week is being observed between May 17th and May 23rd. This is a time to put the focus on how young people can be steered away from drug use or underage alcohol use. Most parents truly want their kids to stay sober and drug-free but may not know how to ensure this happens. For this occasion, Narconon would like to offer parents tips on how to be a Prevention Parent. 1. Stay sober yourself. Drink lightly or not at all. Never, ever drink and drive and see that your kids know you will never do this.…

One of the most troubling drug abuse and addiction problems that currently affect our nation is the problem of prescription drug abuse. This includes the misuse of prescription drugs that are given by valid prescription – either by taking more than recommended or by taking them in ways other than recommended – as well as the illegal use of prescription drugs without a valid prescription. Like every other state in the country, the state of Oklahoma suffers their fair share of these problems. In fact, prescription drug overdose deaths in the state of Oklahoma kill more residents each year than…